Genomic analysis of two GB virus A variants isolated from captive monkeys.
The recent isolation of GB viruses A and B from GB agent infected tamarins and their lack of involvement in human hepatitis has sparked interest in the origin of these viruses. Several healthy non-human primate species have been shown to harbour sequences 52-79% identical to the GBV-A 5' nontranslated region. In this paper we report the near genome length sequence of GBV-Amx 70047 and GBV-Atri 1122. These sequences support previous observations about the genomic organization of GBV-A and provide insight into the genomic variability within this virus genus. Although the GBV-A variant polyproteins possess many motifs conserved between other members of the Flaviviridae, they do not encode a basic core-like protein. Amino acid sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis demonstrate variability within the GBV-A genus similar to that observed between hepatitis C virus (HCV) types. However, genomic organization and disease association demonstrate a closer evolutionary relationship to GBV-C than to HCV.
Erker
J C
JC
Virus Discovery Group, Experimental Biology Research, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA. James.Erker@add.ssw.abbott.com
Desai
S M
SM
Leary
T P
TP
Chalmers
M L
ML
Montes
C C
CC
Mushahwar
I K
IK
D000818:Animals; D016645:Aotidae; D001483:Base Sequence; D002144:Callithrix; D004279:DNA, Viral; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006524:Hepatitis, Viral, Animal / Q000821:virology*; D008251:Macaca; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D012452:Saguinus
D004279:DNA, Viral